His Ministry had requested an amount of ₵2.5 billion ahead of the 2024 budget statement to deal with election related issues, as well as emerging internal and domestic terrorism threats.

However, following the release of the 2024 budget statement and economic plan it was revealed the Ministry got only ₵1.6 billion.

“We are aware of the domestic and also the external security challenges as well as the challenges of the election year. We had estimated that we’d need an amount of about ₵2.5 billion but unfortunately our allocation has been reduced to ₵1.6 billion because the national envelope is not big enough,” he stated on the floor of parliament today.

Despite this, the Minister says his ministry will make do with the amount and continue to keep the nation safe.

“In spite of this Mr. Speaker, we want to assure the house that we will do everything to be able to accommodate the various challenges that we face and we will make sure that we are able to confront the challenges,” he said.

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The ex-parte motion, which was filed on Thursday, October 19, is expected to be moved in court tomorrow [Friday, October 27].

In the affidavit in support of his motion, Kan Dapaah asserts: “It has not been possible to effect service personally on the defendant (Oliver Barker-Vormawor) with the writ of summons and statement of claim and it has become impracticable to do so as I do not know the place of abode of the defendant and attempts to effect service on him at his place of work as I know, has also proved unsuccessful.”

Mr. Kan Dapaah has sued the lead convener of the #FixTheCountry Movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, for defamation.

In a writ issued on Tuesday, September 26, the lawyers of the Minister, demanded ¢10 million as general damages for alleging that the Ministry attempted to stop his “activism” with a $1 million bribe.

Mr. Kan Dapaah is also demanding “An apology and retraction of the words” by Mr Barker-Vormawor.

He also demanded that there should be a “Perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from repeating similar or other defamatory words against the plaintiff.”

The suit followed Barker-Vormawor‘s allegation that he and his colleagues had turned down an offer made by the Minister of National Security in a secret meeting.

He said they were offered $1m to stop the ‘activism.’

The lead convenor had also posted on X (formerly Twitter), on September 21, alleging that “The cabinet promised us $1 million if only we can stop the demonstration. We rejected!”

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The Minister has stated the revenue generated from the illegality could be a source of attraction for terrorists.

Mr Dapaah raised the concerns during a press briefing in Accra as he gives an update on the Accra Initiative.

The initiative aims to prevent the spillover of terrorism from the Sahel and to address transnational organised crime and violent extremism in ECOWAS member countries’ border areas.

He cited Burkina Faso and Mali as countries where terrorists have been attracted to gold mining areas.

“In Mali, in Burkina Faso, the terrorists have always been attracted to gold mining areas. Clearly, they try to make money from gold mining activities to undertake the criminal activities that they do. 

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“The criminals may want to take advantage of galamsey activities in our country to raise money to do what they do in other countries and what they may plan to do in our country,” he said. 

However, he assured that his outfit is working hard to avert such developments in Ghana.

“We are aware of this. We are studying it. We do know what has to be done in this area, and we work hard to make sure we are not overtaken by events. But clearly, one way that you can make cheap money to go and undertake some of these criminal activities is galamsey, so it’s of interest,” he assured.

The West African sub-region in recent times has been confronted with threats of terrorism as Ghana’s neighbours Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso have suffered attacks.

The situation has compelled the Ghana government to launch the See Something, Say Something campaign, to encourage citizens to report any suspicious activity.

GACL has explained the decision to rescind the interdiction follows consultations and facts that have been brought to its attention over the matter.

However, GACL’s letter has indicated that the Committee of Enquiry shall proceed with its mandate as spelt out in the Convening Order.

The security officer, Awudu Basit, stationed at the Kumasi Aiport was interdicted for what was described as embarrassing when he decided to conduct a pre-boarding search on Mr Dapaah in front of the VVIP Lounge on September 8.

The interdiction was to pave way for a thorough investigation of the circumstances that led to the incident.

The company has come under heavy criticism after the news about the incident went viral.

The incident, according to GACL, occurred on April 8, 2022, when Mr Basit was assigned to perform airside duties.

The Minister is said to have appeared from the VVIP lounge to board Africa World Airline flight at about 2:30 pm.

“It is reported that you approached the minister and demanded to conduct a pre-boarding search on him in the open of the front of the VVIP lounge,” a statement from GACL read.

The situation the company said ended up embarrassing the minister and has cast a negative impression on the company’s image and integrity, hence the suspension pending thorough investigations into the matter.

The statement further noted Mr Basit will be paid two-thirds of his salary during the period of interdiction.

Below is the full statement:

Senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, says Ghanaians will be in danger if the National Security Minister goes mute on issues that threaten the country’s security.

According to him, Kan Dapaah is well-informed about the country’s security due to his position as the sector minister. Therefore, he should be taken for his words when he says the country’s security will be in tatters if the Judiciary is tagged as being biased.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Wednesday, he said, “Kan Dapaah is not a small boy. He is the National Security Minister. Therefore, he is privy to information those who are criticising him do not know.

“When Kan Dapaah goes to sleep, we will all be in danger. He employed people and knows where he gets his information as a Security Minister, he knows what he is talking about.”

In his discussion with host, Benjamin Akakpo, Prof Gyampo added that “this is a national security matter. If we don’t take care and people decide that we won’t go to court and take matters into our own hands, there will be chaos.”

Speaking during a sensitisation workshop on the national security strategy for judges of the superior courts, Mr Kan Dapaah said the Judiciary’s role is paramount in helping to safeguard the security of the nation; hence, the need to have proper engagements that can sensitise judges to be able to deal with emerging threats that come to them.

“Injustice occasioned as a result of the absence of an effective justice delivery system or delayed justice or biased justice is certainly a threat to national security. Indeed, when injustice abounds, particularly in situations where the bench, which is considered the final arbiter of disputes, is deemed biased, citizens tend to take the law into their own hands most times without recourse to the established systems of justice delivery,” he said.

Sharing his view on the matter, the New Patriotic Party’s Legal Committee Chairman, Frank Davies, said the minister’s comments are misplaced.

He argued that “saying that one political party is in power [so] the justices should be mindful of how they interpret the law is completely lopsided.”

“National security would be threatened in what way? So, what? The judges are supposed to balance the equation? They give five judgements in favour of the NPP and give another five in favour of the NDC?” he further quizzed.

But according to Professor Gyampo, “we must not offer partisan defences and opposition to everything. There should be an elite consensus on some of these things.”

The decision, he explains, is due to confidentiality and national security considerations.

Mr Dapaah said this when he appeared before the House on Friday, December 17, 2021, to respond to questions from North Tongu Member of Parliament (MP), Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the trip.

“Mr Speaker, recent official travels to France, Belgium, and South Africa by His Excellency the President are paid for out of the operational funds from the Ministry of National Security.

“Mr Speaker payments out of the ministry’s operational funds are glued with rules of confidentiality and state secrecy and it is not the normal practice…to make the suggested disclosures,” the Minister explained.

This outcome comes a few weeks after the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament said he advised the Minister not to make public details of the foreign travels.

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The Abetifi MP said the advice was based on his knowledge on security matters, adding the Minister must continue to keep the information on the Presidential travel secret.

There have been several attempts by North Togu MP to get the government to account for the chartered transportation which he has described as ‘Arabian Knight’ style which is putting pressure on the country’s expenditure.